barclay butera: monday makeover

Based in Newport, California, interior designer Barclay Butera calls upon influences from Old Hollywood and West Palm Beach while creating spaces for his clients. Butera seems to effortlessly capture American coastal style by layering classic and comfortable textures, colors, textiles, and patterns. By mixing more than he matches, Butera keeps his tailored interiors interesting and timeless. He typically tops off his seaside spaces with nautical accents, including ships and shells. The combination of these bold elements compliment each other so well that they result in elegance that is only slightly understated—or, Barclay's signature style of approachable elegance. Butera approaches design as a well-rounded wardrobe and believes that "We all love our Gap t-shirt mixed with a great pair of designer jeans.”

For those of us on a budget, we may not be able to hire Barclay Butera, but the following suggestions may help you successfully recreate his signature style.

Consider reupholstering accent chairs with linen or even burlap. Cover an accent wall with toile paper, or treat windows with bamboo blinds. You can even consider covering a ceiling with grasscloth (Butera dares to do it—so can you!). Throw in some bold batik pillows, such as John Robshaw’s, and add a model ship to the mantle or some shell sketches to the wall. If all else fails, finish off your room with Butera’s book, Living on the Coast, an educational and sophisticated addition to any space!

Here, I have made a humble attempt to recreate the Butera look with the following budget-friendly items: 

The inspiration:

Barclay Butera

The recreation:

It's not Scalamandre, but it'll do:

China Toile Wallpaper

from The Home Depot

I love the texture of this table:

Coffee Table

$1,116.00 from Zinc Door

Some softer textiles, such as the upholstry on this accent chair or the inviting area rug, will compliment bold textures, such as bamboo, that are often used by Butera.

Armchair

$199.99 from Lamps Plus

5' x 7' Animal Print Area Rug

$73.99 from Overstock

A round mirror with a solid frame for above a mantle:

36" wide mirror

$340.91 from Lamps Plus

Duh:

Porcelain Vase

$199 from Ethan Allen

Beautiful shell prints--the perfect addition to any beachy abode!

Shell Print

$14 from 1001 Treasures on Etsy

Sea Shells Wall Art

$319 Home Decorators Collection

And if you don't have the time or budget to reupholster furniture, just cover it with John Robshaw or Les Indiennes pillows:

John Robshaw Pillows

~ $145 from Neiman Marcus

Pretty Printed Les Indiennes Pillow

$72 from Les Indiennes

A couple of cobalt vases. If these two get snatched up, Etsy has quite the supply...

Cobalt Vase

$5 from Big Girl Little Lady shop on Etsy

Cobalt Vase

$14.99 from PattiesPassion shop on Etsy

A beachy basket for your Coastal Living collection: 

Wicker Baset accent

$34.95 from Crate and Barrel

And, of course, a clam bowl!:

Clam Shell Bowl

$22.99 from Made in Oregon

If you don't have a fireplace to work with, I feel your pain, but a cheapy floating shelf like this one from Target will do the trick here:

Floating Shelf (but in white)

~$20 from Target

Fresh flowers:

Orchid

$124.95 from Teleflora

(Or you can buy a more affordable faux orchid like this one:)

Faux Orchid

$49.98 from Wayfair

And last, but certainly not least, this book will be your best Butera-esque purchase yet:

Living on the Coast

$40 from Barclay Butera

Stack it with a pile of other fabulous books, top it off with your clam bowl, and voila! Vignette! ;)

Here is how it comes together:

Enjoy!

Emilie